August 13 - Going for the One day in Yes History

[BrianD]

Not much happened on August 12 - so gave it a miss.......


But August 13 is the day in 1977 that the album Going for the One reached #1 in the UK!

Then in 2001 the Magnification wallpaper became available from Yesworld.

And of course Yes played live in 1969, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1984, 1989 (ABWH), 1994 & 2002.

[Yes_Fan_4_Life26]

Thats awesome Brian Going For The One I think I will give it a listen now except this cr*p on the radio. LOL

[tardistraveler]

On this day in Yes history I saw Yes play Atlanta in 2002 - phenomenal show!

[tardistraveler]

Just found my review of the show over on YesNet - it was a magical one!


Venue: Atlanta, GA, August 13
Posted by: Diane (tardistraveler@hotmail.com)

WOW!
I first saw Yes 30 years ago in Memphis and they blew me away. I've been a fan ever since. I've lost count of how many concerts!

Last night in Atlanta they blew me away again. The highlights:

Wakeman - didn't miss a lick. So good to hear him with the band again - it's been since 1979 for me. He adds an extra dimension that just doesn't happen with anyone else. The arrangements of the orchestral parts (In the Presence Of, Magnification) were excellent - I had been looking forward to what he would do with those. And the keyboards during HOTS and Awaken almost brought tears.

Anderson - My son and I were listening to HOTS from Fragile after the concert and I commented that it was amazing that he could still sing like that after 30 years. My son's response, "Mom, he sings better!" And it's true - over the years he just sounds better and better. I remember times in the 70's when, near the end of the tour, his voice would sound a little ragged and the high notes wouldn't always come. Not so last night (or anytime recently). Fabulous!

Don't Kill the Whale - White's hard-driving beat made this song! More powerful than the Tormato version. I loved it!

Squire - What can you say? Squire was on! His solo was fabulous as always, and the three-necked bass during Awaken was awesome. He always shows such enthusiasm and last night was no exception.

Howe's solo - It was a joy to hear Mood for a Day again, and Howe's prowess with the guitar always amazes. He was so gracious after playing and seemed almost surprised by the response.

Roundabout - Yes, Roundabout. I know that many fans (myself included) have heard this song 80 zillion times in concert, but I found myself missing it when the first encore was YIND instead of Roundabout. And it's a particular favorite of my son's, who has only heard it once in concert and was really hoping they would play it. So, I was quite thankful when Howe let loose with the first notes, and enjoyed it fully! So what if we've all heard it 80 zillion times, it's still a great song to end a magical concert.

We Have Heaven/South Side of the Sky - I felt like I was in on a historic moment to hear these played finally in concert. It was awe-inspiring, and after reading the interview with Rick Wakeman in Notes from the Edge, I had a greater appreciation of what they must have gone through to pin these down for the concert. Fantastic!

My Son - My 11-year old son's only other Yes experience was during the Masterworks tour, which did not go well. Our seats then were in front of a bank of speakers, and although I brought cotton for the ears, it was still too loud for him. With this tour, I promised better earplugs, which helped him immensely, and by the end of the concert he was rocking out with everyone else! His enjoyment of something that has always had such meaning for me was gratifying, and added happiness to the experience to know I had shared it with someone I love. We have a new Yes convert!

The downside:

Sound? - I had read most of the reviews up until the Atlanta show and was curious about the comments regarding the sound system, mix, etc. I'm not sure what was going on in Atlanta, having no background in sound engineering, but it seemed that occasionally the band would miss a cue. Maybe they weren't hearing each other properly? Not severe enough to mess up the show, but noticeable to someone very familiar with their music.

Crowd - Beer smell permeated the air, and I had to say something to folks in front of me when they starting passing a joint in front of my 11-year-old. If you really must get high at the concert - do it before you come. I learned many many years ago that absolutely no mind-altering substances are necessary at a Yes concert - the music does it all for you. I'm still on a high today!

Thanks to YesWorld for letting us, the concert goers, share our experiences with everyone. It's fun to let loose like this with fellow Yes fans that understand your enthusiam (obsession?). And thanks, a thousand times over, to Yes for continuing to make new music (I adore In the Presence Of) and perform for your fans. There's a magic that happens in concert that just isn't captured in the studio. I've told people for years that Yes is the only band I've ever heard that is better live than on record. Last night that continued to be true. If you haven't seen this show yet - it is a must!

Here's wishing Yes a long(er) and (more) fruitful career! We love your music thus far, and hope there's new stuff to come! (especially with Wakeman back!) And don't worry about the setlist - play what you love and want to share with us. If you record - I will listen, and if you tour, I will be there! Thanks, Yes, for enriching my life over the last 30 years.